This is me, Yefim Volodarskiy, during visiting Israel in 1999, on a tour to the old town of Jaffa in Israel. There are other tourists of our group beside me. One of the tourists photographed me at my request. This was an unforgettable tour to the beautiful ancient land and its places of interest preserved by Israeli people with such loving care.
My wife and I had a family who knew Jewish culture well, but we were not religious. I didn't know Hebrew, but my wife and I communicated in Yiddish with ease. I can read well in Yiddish. I know and like Jewish literature. I used to be a light operator at the Jewish theater! I watched all performances. We celebrate our holidays as another occasion to have a drink and to eat. However, we only celebrate them having a party, but we do not observe any traditions. I have a nice collection of books: Sholem Aleichem, Peretz Markish and many others. My wife retired in 1975 and I retired in 1977. I liked going to theaters with her. We often went for walks in parks and spent vacations in recreation centers. We had noisy and joyful birthday parties. Our friends and the children's friends visited us. Anes died 10 years ago in 1993.
I've visited my relatives in Israel twice. I was with my wife Anes in the first trip. They welcomed me there and wanted me to stay. I liked the country very much, but my age, I was, I could say, in a pensioner's age. I refused. I haven't done anything for Israel and I don't want to be a dependent and receive money! If I were younger I would move there, but I don't want to live on this money that I haven't earned. For this same reason I do not join any Jewish organizations and do not accept help from Hesed. Of course, I identify myself as a Jew, but I don't want to take anything from the people when I cannot offer something in return. I visited Israel for the second time in 1995, with my son. I introduced him to our relatives for him to know them
